Download B.A.( General) Syllabus for HISTORY

HISTORY (GENERAL)
PART-I (Full Marks :300)
Paper-I:
Full Marks :100
Indian History
(Pre-historic times to Sixteenth Century A.D.)
A.
B.
Literary and Archaeological sources of Ancient and Medieval Indian History
-Archaeological methods – Archaeological knowledge and the historical
understanding of the rise and decline of Indus Valley Civilization.
Political developments- I :
Indian Polity in later Vedic times -The Mahayanapadas – the rise and fall of the Maurya
Empire – the Satavahana and Kushana rule- the imperial Guptas -Regional powers and
the struggle for power in North India - Political developments in South India
C.
Political developments-II :
Impact of Islam and political change in IndiaBrief overview of the Delhi Sultanate- the administration of the Delhi Sultanate-the centralized
monarchy -political ideologies in the Delhi Sultanate – Independent Sultans of Bengal – the Vijaynagar
empire.
Economic life in ancient and early medieval India-Land systems in ancient India-Framework of
agriculture ; the state, taxation, irrigation and the agrarian economy- The urban social formationsInternal and overseas trade- Crafts and Guilds- the Indian Feudalism, issues and debates.
II.
The Delhi Sultanate and a changing framework of agriculture- Iqta system-emergence
of new urban centres and a reorientation in commercial life.
E. I.
Society and Religion: Vedic religion and the quest for knowledge – the basic
framework of Brahminical religion-Buddhism, Jainism and social protest. The apogee of
Brahminism and the rise of sectarian cults-Saivism, Vaishnavism, the cult of mother
goddess.
II.
Social life : Social structure- From Varna to Jati – Family life and the status of women.
III.
The nature of the impact of Islam on Indian society – sufism – Syncretic beliefs and the
Bhakti movement.
F.
Art, Architecture, Science
I. Ancient Indian architecture and sculpture – stupa, chaitya, temples of different styles –
Islam and the introduction of new forms – emergence of an Indo saracenic style.
II. Literary products of classical India – Epics and Puranas – Administrative texts,
Kautilya’s Arthasastra – Literary developments in the Gupta age – Scientific knowledge
with special reference to astronomy, Mathematics and medicine – Post thirteen century developments –
history writing in India under the Sultanate – new developments in medicine.
Paper II:
Indian History (C. 1526 to 1914 A.D.)
Full Marks - 100
A.
Disintegration of the Sultnate and foundation of Mughale Empire
Significance of the victory of Babar over the Indian adversaries –Mughal Afghan
contest --Sher Shah as a reformer.
B. I.
Akbar and the consolidation of the Mughal Empire
Political expansion ; administrative reorganization ; relations with the Rajputs -Expansion of Mughal control over Bengal and Decan ---Land Revenue and
Manasabdari system---Evolution of religious policy.
II. Politics and administration in Post-Akbar India
Expanding frontiers of the Empire --consolidation of the Mughale ruling
class; reorganization in the Mansab system .
III. Economy, Society & Culture: Commercial expansion : religious syncretism;art
& architecture.
C.
Aurangzab and the zenith of the Empire
Political expansionism: Deccan--Rise of Shivaji , Mughal-Maratha contest and the
eventual incorporation of the Marathas within the imperial framework -Rajput PolicyState and religion : changes since the death of Akbar.
D.
Break up of the Mughal Empir
Causes thereof -- Growth of regional entities and the relation between the centre and the
periphery ---Trade, Commerce and the rise of the European trading companies--Eventual
success of the English East India Company.
E.
Early stages of the rise of the E.I.Company
Plassey, Buxar and the Diwani---Structural reorganization in the administrationRegulating and Pitts India Acts ---Company's relations with Indian states and its
emergence as the dominant power ; Marathas, Mysore and Sikhs -Subsidiary Alliance
and the enunciation of a new Priciple of expansion-The course of British annexationism
in early 19thcentury: subjugation of the Marathas.
F.
The Colonial Economy
I. Basic features -Land revenue settlements : Bengal, North India, South and West ---long
term colonial impact on agriculture---changing forms of early colonial impact on trade
and commerce : From monopoly to Free trade.
II.
Drain of Wealth -- Deindustrialization --India's international trade in the second half of
the nineteenth century -limited development of modern industries upto 1914-changes
after 1914.
G.
Early Resistance to Colonial Rule :
Different forms of resistance ---rual resistance --resistance by landlords and peasants ;
Poligar uprising (Madras); Paik rebellion (Orissa) and peasant uprisings in Western
Bengal ---Peasant movement and religion: Wahabi and Farazi ---Santal Rebellion
(1855)---The Revolt of 1857
:The social context ; the political context (popular and aristocratic resentment about
British Imperial Policies.)
H.
Reformism and Westernisation
British Orientalism :Bentinck,Macaulay,Western Education and social Reform.The India
Response:Rammohan and Social reform ;The Young Bengal-The Brahmo Movement Vidyasagar and social and educational reform;Reformist initiatives in western and
southern India,-Prarthana Samaj;Reform form within tradition -Arya Samaj;Aligarh
Movement and modernisation of Islam in India;Westernisation and India social
conservatism:The Age of Consent Agitation.
I.Indian Politics :1858--1885
Provincial associations :Bengal,Madras,Bombay -Background to the emergence of the
Indian National Congress --The Foudation of the congress --the nature of the early
congress.
J.Indian Politics: 1885-1914
Congressunder Moderate leadership -Hindu Revivalism-militant nationalism -ideology
and Programme of militant nationalists-Swadeshi Movement :Its varried dimensions The birth of All India Muslim League and Seperate electorate--Revolutionary terrorism
in Bengal and the punjab.
Paper III:
MODERN EUROPE (1789-1939)
Full Marks-100
A.
Foundation of Modern Europe (1789-1814)
1.Background -Renaissance and Refomation -Geographical Discoveries--Scientific Revolution Avent of Capitalism.
2.The French Revolution --Socio-Economic Background ----Progress of the revolution---Popular
Movements ---Jacobins and Girondins.
3.Rise of Napoleon ---Internal Reconstrution Napoleon and Europe---Napoleon and Revolution.
B.Political Developments in Europe from 1815-1870
1. Triumph of conservatism---The Metternich System.
2. Nationalism,Liberalism and the Revolutions of 1830 and 1848.
3. Stages of Italian unification.
4. Unification and consolidation of Germany.
5. Russia:Attempts at Refoms by Alexander-II.
C.Society and Economy in Nineteenth Century Europe
1. Industrial Advances in England and the continent.
2. Labour Movements.
3. Utopian Socialism and Marxism.
4. Art and Culture,Literatures and Science.
D. Modern Imperialism 1871-1914
1. Europe in 1871---New Balance of Power.
2. Scramble for colonies in Asia and Africa.
3. The Eastern Question in later Nineteenth Centuriy.
4. Triple Alliance, Triple Entente and the emergence of two armed camps.
E. First World War (1914-1919)
1. Origins of the first World War --Issues and Stakes.
2. Russian Revolution of 1917.
3. Peace Settlement of 1919---Its long term consequences--Birth of German Republic.
F.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Europe in the Inter -War Period (1919-1939)
Consolidation of economic and political power of the Soviet State.
Rise of Fascism in Italy.
Nazism and Germany ---Nazi State ---the aggressive foreign policy.
Outbreak of the Second World War ---Different Interpretations.
PART-II (Full Marks-100)
Paper IV
Full Marks-100
India and the world 1914-1964:Selected Themes
1. Impact of the first World War on India economy,society and polity;Emergence of Gandhi in
Indian nationalist politics;Concept of Satyagrha';Champaran,Kheda Ahmedabad&Rowlatt Satyagrahas.
2.Gandhian Mass Movements--Khilafat --Non Coopertion &Civil Disobedience
Movements;Revolutionary Nationalism during the 1930s;The Government of India Act of 1935;1937
elections and formation of Congress provincial ministeries;Quit India Movement of 1942.
3. Subhas Chandra Bose,the Indian National Army and India Freedom Movement.
4. Demand for the creation of Pakistan and its repercussions on Indian politics and society;Communal
polities in India.
5. Post war upsurge and different strands of protest politics; partition&the Transfer of
power,Adoption of a republication constitutionin 1950.
6. The Nehru era in independent India ---Development of parliamentary democracy --Economic
planning --Movements for social justice---India and Non-aligned Movement.
7.Emergence of bipolarism and its impact on post -1945 world politics -The Rise of the Thrid World
;Impact of the Cold War on the Third World.